Leading Operational Excellence

Apprenticeship · Level 5 Improvement Specialist
Level 5
Remote or blended delivery
1:1 Coaching
Workplace project
Downloadable resources

Give your improvement specialists the technical mastery and leadership edge to drive measurable, lasting change  — fully funded through the apprenticeship levy.

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Fully funded

via apprenticeship levy

14

month programme

10

live workshops

The Operational Excellence for Managers apprenticeship is a 14-month, fully funded programme for team leaders, supervisors, and frontline managers who want to get better at solving operational problems, not just putting out fires. Across nine workshops, learners pick up practical tools from Lean and Six Sigma (think process mapping, root cause analysis, and data-driven decision-making) and apply them to real challenges in their own workplace. Delivery is flexible, with organisations able to choose between fully remote, blended, or face-to-face, depending on what works for their team. There’s no cost to eligible employers, and at the end of it, learners come away with a recognised Level 3 Improvement Technician qualification, plus a management certificate included within the programme at no extra charge.

The Operational Excellence for Managers apprenticeship is a 14-month, fully funded programme for team leaders, supervisors, and frontline managers who want to get better at solving operational problems, not just putting out fires. Across nine workshops, learners pick up practical tools from Lean and Six Sigma (think process mapping, root cause analysis, and data-driven decision-making) and apply them to real challenges in their own workplace. Delivery is flexible, with organisations able to choose between fully remote, blended, or face-to-face, depending on what works for their team. There's no cost to eligible employers, and at the end of it, learners come away with a recognised Level 3 Improvement Technician qualification, plus a management certificate included within the programme at no extra charge.

Who is this for?
Built for improvement professionals ready to lead with impact
Learning Outcomes
What you'll be able to do

Not a Lean course that stops at the tools

This programme has been deliberately built for specialists who need both technical mastery and leadership credibility. It combines advanced Six Sigma, statistical analysis, and project management with embedded Core360 leadership, not as an add-on, but by design.

Core360 ILM Leadership Certificate

A wraparound leadership qualification covering self-awareness, leading people, managing performance, and driving results, funded within the programme at no extra cost.

Skills you will build
Practical capabilities, not just awareness

Influence & negotiation

Build strategic relationships, resolve conflict, and drive team engagement and alignment

Commercial awareness

Understand business risk, legislation, and how to present compelling improvement proposals

Lean & process improvement

Apply Lean thinking, policy deployment, and change methods to drive real improvements

Data & statistical analysis

Use SPC, capability analysis, and regression techniques to identify and prioritise improvements

Project & change leadership

Manage timelines, risk, governance, and compliance across complex improvement projects

Evidence-based performance

Lead teams using KPIs, ROI/VOI analysis, and data-driven decision-making to optimise outcomes

Learning journey
10 remote workshops over 14 months

Relationships, Influence & Leadership

Lead teams, apply influencing techniques, and foster inclusion

Self-Aware & Strategic Leadership

Develop emotionally intelligent leadership to inspire stakeholders

Commercial Awareness & Leadership

Understand business risks and present concise improvement proposals

Evidence-Based Performance

Lead teams using KPIs, ROI/VOI, and data-driven decisions

Change & Improvement Methods

Apply Lean thinking and change methods to drive improvement

Governance & Compliance

Manage projects, risk, compliance, and governance for sustainable outcomes

Process Mapping & Analysis

Apply process modelling and root cause analysis to prioritise improvements

Data Analysis & Process Capability

Plan data acquisition and conduct capability analysis using SPC

Statistics, Measures & Experimentation

Test data, plan experiments, and apply Failure Mode Avoidance

Project Planning & Review

Build business cases and apply advanced project management tools

Ready to get started?

Speak to our team — no obligation, just a conversation.

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Frequently asked questions

The programme runs across 10 workshops over 14 months, followed by end-point assessment.

The programme is fully funded for apprenticeship levy payers, meaning there is no direct cost to eligible employers. If your organisation does not pay the apprenticeship levy, you can still access significant funding for this programme. Speak to our team to check your organisation’s eligibility.

Yes, all workshops are delivered remotely, making this programme accessible to learners across the UK without travel costs or disruption.

Learners achieve a qualification equivalent to a Level 5 Improvement Specialist standard, recognised across the UK for its advanced Lean, Six Sigma, and operational improvement.

This programme suits leaders who want to drive meaningful, measurable improvement across their operations.

 

Learners need to be in employment, and their employer needs to be eligible to access apprenticeship funding, which covers most organisations with a payroll over £3m, and many smaller ones too. Not sure if that’s you? Just give us a call and we will check in minutes.

Core 360: Master Leadership Excellence is a series of masterclasses woven into the programme to develop the broader management behaviours. It is covering strategic planning, resource management, project delivery, and leading change. This is funded within the programme at no extra cost.

Get in touch

Book a call

Whether you want to pick up the phone and speak to us, or drop us an email, we’ll let you decide. 

Give us a Call

0800 111 4992

Send us an Email

hello@learnmoreuk.com

Find Us

Learnmore Network, The Lantern, 75 Hampstead Road, London, NW1 2PL

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